Influence of ellagic acid on prostate cancer cell proliferation:A caspase-dependent pathway

Objective:To evaluate the effect of allagic acid treatment on the cell viability of human prostate cancer cells.Methods:Ellagic acid(10-100 mol/L) treatment(48 h) of human prostate carcinoma PC3 cells was found to result in a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth and apoptosis of PC3 cells as assessed by MTT assay,western blotting.flow cytometry and confocal microscopy.Results:We observed that ellagic acid treatment of PC3 cells resulted in a dose dependent inhibition of cell growth/cell viability.This ellagic acid caused cell growth inhibition was found to be accompanied by induction of apoptosis,as assessed by the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP) and morphological changes.Further,induction of apoptosis accompanied a decrease in the levels of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and increase in proapoptotic protein Bax.thus shifting the Bax:Bcl-2 ratio in favor of apoptosis.Ellagic acid treatment of PC3 cells was also found to result in significant activation of caspases,as shown by the dose dependent decrease in the protein expression of procaspase-3,-6.-8 and -9.This ellagic acid-mediated induction of apoptosis was significantly(80%-90%) inhibited by the caspase inhibitor N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone(Z-VAD-FMK).Thus these data suggested an essential role of caspases in ellagic acid-mediated apoptosis of PC3 cells.Conclusions:It is tempting to suggest that consumption of tropical pigmented fruits and vegetables could be an effective strategy to combat prostate cancer.

"Triple-positive" renal limited vasculitis presenting with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis: A case report

Rationale:Coexistence of anti-glomerular basement membrane(anti-GBM)disease with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody(ANCA)in a case of glomerulonephritis is often identified as a"double-positive"disease.Interestingly,the majority of"double positive"ANCA is myeloperoxidase(MPO)-ANCA and some of the MPO-ANCA positive cases showed intrarenal arteritis,suggesting an ANCA-associated kidney lesion.Proteinase 3-ANCA positive diseases are also rarely reported.Patients positive for all three antibodies,i.e.,triple-positive patients,are extremely rare.Patient's Concern:A 53 year-old female presented with anasarca and oliguria of 2 months'duration.Diagnosis:Pauci-immune type renal limited crescentic glomerulonephritis positive for MPO-ANCA,proteinase 3-ANCA,and anti-GBM antibody(triple-positive).Interventions:Intravenous high dose cyclophosphamide,oral azathioprine,intravenous methylprednisolone,and plasma exchange as per British Health Professionals in Rheumatology Guidelines.Outcomes:After one-month follow-up,anasarca and proteinuria were lessened,serum creatinine was normalized,titers of MPO-ANCA levels were decreased,and anti-GBM antibody levels were normalized.Lessons:Triple-positive renal limited vasculitis is rare and response to combined immunosuppressive therapy and plasma exchange can contribute to successful remission.

A Rare Form of Major Self-mutilation in a Patient with Delusional Disorder

Self-mutilation is defined as the intentional,direct injuring of body tissue without suicidal intent.In this article we report the case of a 45-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with a history of incising his abdomen and chopping his intestines into pieces.The patient also brought the chopped pieces along with himself.He was operated on,and a resection and anastomosis was done.Postoperative recovery of the patient was uneventful.After a psychiatric assessment was done,it was found that he was suffering from delusional disorder.Owing to such rare presentation of major self-mutilation in a patient with delusional disorder,this case is being reported here.